New Blues coach John Strange has shaken things up with his first selections as NSW coach, naming four debutants and a new-look halves pairing for game one of the 2025 women’s State of Origin series.
The Blues named their 20-woman squad on Wednesday ahead of game one in Brisbane on April 1, with halfback Jesse Southwell back in the fold after being snubbed in 2024 and Sharks skipper Tiana Penitani Gray to start at five-eighth as the Blues seek redemption following consecutive series defeats under the coaching ofKylie Hilder.
The NSW team for game one of the women’s State of Origin series.Credit: Getty Images
Strange, who is also the head coach of NRLW premiers the Sydney Roosters, stuck close to the successful recipe of his club side, naming six Roosters players, including debutants Jayme Fressard and Jocelyn Kelleher, along with Jessica Sergis, Isabelle Kelly, Keeley Davis and Olivia Kernick.
Roosters captain Kelly was named NSW captain on her own, after having co-captained the team with veteran Kezie Apps during the past two years.
Sharks prop Ellie Johnston is also set to make her debut, along with Eels fullback Abbi Church, who is tipped to beat veteran Emma Verran (nee Tonegato) to the No.1 jersey.
It means NSW will have a new spine for the 2025 series, with Davis anticipated to start at hooker instead of Olivia Higgins.
With no NRLW action before the Origin series, the NSW team held a six-week training camp with a pool of 30 players. Strange selected his Origin side from among that group.
There has been plenty of tinkering among the NSW halves in the past few seasons, with Rachael Pearson, Corban Baxter, Taliah Fuimaono, Dibb and Southwell all making appearances in the past three series. Strange is keen to find a successful and consistent combination for NSW sooner rather than later.
